{"id":190558,"date":"2025-05-27T16:41:03","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T06:41:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=190558"},"modified":"2025-05-27T16:41:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T06:41:06","slug":"vic-country-releases-national-championships-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/05\/27\/vic-country-releases-national-championships-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"Vic Country releases National Championships squad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VICTORIA Country’s squad to face Western Australia has been finalised, with 27 players set to make the trip over to Perth on Saturday June 7. Runners-up last year, the Vics will be coached by Gippsland Power mentor Rhett McLennan<\/em><\/strong> and have left the door open for more prospects to be added to the roster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> SCROLL to see the full squad & fixture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight players have been promoted from outside the summer training hub; namely Rilley Aquilina<\/a>, Jett Elek<\/a> and Jesse Mellor<\/a> (Geelong Falcons), Talor Byrne<\/a> (GWV Rebels), Zac Harding<\/a> and Harry Moon<\/a> (Murray Bushrangers), Tom Matthews<\/a> (Gippsland Power), and Callum Smith<\/a> (Dandenong Stingrays).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it stands, a handful of National Academy members will feature for the Big V, including pick one contender Willem Duursma<\/a>. Geelong Falcons defender Josh Lindsay<\/a>, who was best afield in the Academy’s second showcase game, is also among the side’s top talents this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A further half-dozen prospects are tied to clubs, including Carlton father-son duo Harry Dean<\/a> and Cody Walker<\/a>. Geelong has Next Generation Academy (NGA) pair Mellor and Ben Rongdit<\/a> included from the Falcons, along with Toby Sinnema<\/a> (Melbourne NGA) and Mitch Stevens<\/a> (Adelaide father-son).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walker is one of just three bottom-agers in the squad, joined by Wil Malady<\/a> and Darcy Szerszyn<\/a>. Only one over-ager made the cut ahead of the AFL Mid-Season Draft, with in-form Murray Bushrangers ruck Harding likely to get his chance after missing out on representative duties last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Vic Country faces a tough away trip to open its National Championships campaign, three effective home legs follow in Melbourne. Among those fixtures is the now customary carnival-closer against Vic Metro, this time set to take place at RSEA Park on Sunday July 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 VIC COUNTRY U18 SQUAD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NAME<\/strong><\/td>CTL CLUB<\/strong><\/td>COMMUNITY CLUB<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Tairon Ah-Mu<\/td>Dandenong Stingrays<\/td>Berwick<\/td><\/tr>
Rilley Aquilina<\/td>Geelong Falcons<\/td>St Josephs<\/td><\/tr>
Talor Byrne<\/td>GWV Rebels<\/td>Koroit<\/td><\/tr>
Harry Dean<\/td>Murray Bushrangers<\/td>Lavington<\/td><\/tr>
Willem Duursma<\/td>Gippsland Power<\/td>Foster<\/td><\/tr>
Jett Elek<\/td>Geelong Falcons<\/td>Lara<\/td><\/tr>
Zac Harding<\/td>Murray Bushrangers<\/td>Wodonga Bulldogs<\/td><\/tr>
Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves<\/td>Dandenong Stingrays<\/td>Mornington<\/td><\/tr>
Harley Hicks<\/td>GWV Rebels<\/td>Lake Wendouree<\/td><\/tr>
Max Lee<\/td>Dandenong Stingrays<\/td>Edithvale-Aspendale<\/td><\/tr>
Josh Lindsay<\/td>Geelong Falcons<\/td>Newtown & Chilwell<\/td><\/tr>
Wil Malady*<\/td>Gippsland Power<\/td>Bairnsdale<\/td><\/tr>
Thomas Matthews<\/td>Gippsland Power<\/td>Moe<\/td><\/tr>
Jesse Mellor<\/td>Geelong Falcons<\/td>Geelong West<\/td><\/tr>
Hugo Mikunda<\/td>Geelong Falcons<\/td>Bell Park<\/td><\/tr>
Harry Moon<\/td>Murray Bushrangers<\/td>Rochester<\/td><\/tr>
Zachary O’Keefe<\/td>Gippsland Power<\/td>Maffra<\/td><\/tr>
Riley Onley<\/td>Murray Bushrangers<\/td>Shepparton United<\/td><\/tr>
Ben Rongdit<\/td>Geelong Falcons<\/td>Colac<\/td><\/tr>
Jobe Scapin<\/td>Gippsland Power<\/td>Inverloch-Kongwak<\/td><\/tr>
Toby Sinnema<\/td>Dandenong Stingrays<\/td>Devon Meadows<\/td><\/tr>
Callum Smith<\/td>Dandenong Stingrays<\/td>Vermont<\/td><\/tr>
Mitchell Stevens<\/td>Gippsland Power<\/td>Heyfield<\/td><\/tr>
Darcy Szerszyn*<\/td>Dandenong Stingrays<\/td>Noble Park<\/td><\/tr>
Archie Taylor<\/td>GWV Rebels<\/td>Cobden<\/td><\/tr>
Cody Walker*<\/td>Bendigo Pioneers<\/td>Echuca<\/td><\/tr>
Hunter Wright<\/td>Bendigo Pioneers<\/td>Golden Square<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

* denotes bottom-age player<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 VIC COUNTRY U18 FIXTURE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

vs. Western Australia | Saturday June 7, 12pm @ Mineral Resources Park
vs. South Australia | Sunday June 29, 10:30am @ TBC
vs. Allies | Saturday July 5, 12:15pm @ IKON Park
vs. Vic Metro | Sunday July 20, 11am @ RSEA Park<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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